What are the responsibilities and job description for the Preconstruction Manager position at Smith Group of Americas?
Position Summary
The Preconstruction Manager leads all early-phase project planning activities, including estimating oversight, bid strategy, pursuit coordination, and the creation of standardized processes that shape the company’s project pipeline. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining the systems, tools, and workflows that enable accurate pricing, disciplined bidding, clean handoffs to Operations, and predictable project success.
This leader will drive the implementation of a 90 day stabilization roadmap focused on improving the company’s preconstruction flow, building organizational structure, reducing workload bottlenecks, and aligning BD, estimating, and operations. The ideal candidate is process-driven, detail-oriented, and comfortable elevating an underdeveloped function into a high-performing, scalable department.
Key Responsibilities
Required
The Preconstruction Manager leads all early-phase project planning activities, including estimating oversight, bid strategy, pursuit coordination, and the creation of standardized processes that shape the company’s project pipeline. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining the systems, tools, and workflows that enable accurate pricing, disciplined bidding, clean handoffs to Operations, and predictable project success.
This leader will drive the implementation of a 90 day stabilization roadmap focused on improving the company’s preconstruction flow, building organizational structure, reducing workload bottlenecks, and aligning BD, estimating, and operations. The ideal candidate is process-driven, detail-oriented, and comfortable elevating an underdeveloped function into a high-performing, scalable department.
Key Responsibilities
- Preconstruction Leadership & Process Development
- Build, implement, and maintain all preconstruction SOPs, templates, workflows, and quality controls.
- Oversee the creation and adoption of the Go/NoGo process, Bid Calendar, Scope Matrix, Handoff Checklist, and KPI dashboards.
- Establish consistent preconstruction procedures for takeoffs, pricing, bid reviews, and pursuit strategy.
- Ensure all preconstruction deliverables follow standardized documentation and compliance requirements.
- Conduct postmortem reviews on bids to improve accuracy and processes.
- Bid Management & Hard-Bid Execution
- Lead the development, preparation, and submission of competitive bids and proposals.
- Manage complete bid cycles including document review, scope development, subcontractor outreach, leveling, and pricing strategies.
- Ensure timely and complete bid submissions with highquality assumptions, clarifications, alternates, and VE options.
- Maintain and update cost histories, databases, unit prices, and market pricing.
- Drive subcontractor engagement to ensure coverage across all scopes (drywall, demo, plumbing, etc.).
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Operations to ensure seamless project handoffs using standardized turnover packages.
- Support Finance by contributing to revenue forecasting, cashflow planning, cost validations, and change order modeling.
- Partner with BD/Marketing on proposals, pursuit strategy, interviews, and market positioning.
- Collaborate with HR on hiring, onboarding estimators/PEs, and supporting organizational structure changes.
- Provide crossfunctional support as requested during periods of high workload across departments.
- Capacity Planning & Workload Management
- Maintain visibility over all incoming pursuits, deadlines, manpower needs, and resource requirements.
- Balance workload between estimators, PEs, and Ops teams using WIP limits and staffing analysis.
- Identify bottlenecks early and recommend staffing or outsourcing solutions (fractional support, temp PEs, etc.).
- Communicate weekly priorities during companywide operations meetings.
- Handoff to Operations & Early Project Planning
- Facilitate Precon → Ops handoff meetings using standardized agenda and documentation.
- Deliver complete and accurate scope books, subcontractor leveling notes, VE options, and risk registers.
- Ensure longlead materials, procurement items, and preliminary schedules are communicated clearly before NTP.
- Partner with PMs and Superintendents on schedule feasibility, logistics planning, and constructability reviews.
- Quality Assurance & Risk Management
- Establish estimating QA/QC processes to mitigate scope gaps, missing trades, or price risk.
- Identify projectspecific risks early and provide recommendations for contingencies, allowances, or bid alternates.
- Ensure adherence to compliance, permitting requirements, and contract document review.
- Tracking, Reporting & Metrics
- Own weekly KPI reporting for preconstruction performance, including: o Hit rate
- On-time bid submission rate oEstimate-to-actual variance
- QC findings per bid
- Partner with leadership to create dashboards, scorecards, and visibility tools for pipeline management.
- Contribute to monthly and quarterly business reviews with datadriven recommendations.
Required
- 510 years in estimating or preconstruction for a commercial General Contractor.
- Strong background in hardbids, conceptual estimating, and multitrade scopes.
- Experience building or improving preconstruction processes, tools, and SOPs.
- Proficiency in construction estimating tools (Bluebeam, PlanSwift/STACK, OST, Procore, etc.).
- Strong understanding of construction means & methods, scheduling, subcontractor markets, and design documents.
- Ability to read and interpret architectural, structural, mechanical, and civil drawings.
- Strong organizational and communication skills, with ability to lead crossfunctional teams.
- Experience in a fastgrowing or restructuring GC environment.
- Knowledge of cost databases and advanced Excel functions.
- Previous leadership or management experience.
- Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field.